Poulin continues to progress and impress
By DANNY RODE
The Red Deer Rebels saw something in Cohen Poulin that other WHL teams didn’t.
Poulin, a native of Abbotsford, B.C., wasn’t selected in the WHL Prospects Draft, but the Rebels were quick to invite him to their camp last season.
This year, the 17-year-old returned and has taken the next step that saw him sign with the Rebels on Sept. 6 and eventually make their season opening roster.
“I had very little idea coming in this season how it would end up,” said the six-foot-two, 186-pound forward. “They talked to me a little bit about it, but they said I had to show my worth.
“Signing also was a big relief… made things easier for sure.
“Still mentally it was tough, but I just kept telling myself it would be find and it worked out.”
Poulin has grabbed a regular spot on the fourth line to start the season and Friday notched his first WHL goal in a 4-3 win over the Tigers in Medicine Hat.
“It’s been kind of building up a little bit, so It feels good,” he said.
Cohen Poulin tucks his first @TheWHL goal🚨 pic.twitter.com/ng0TEdFgaw
— Red Deer Rebels (@Rebelshockey) September 29, 2024
“That first goal for a young guy, any guy for that matter, is a good confidence builder early on,” said Rebels head coach Dave Struch. “They feel good about themselves, and they should.”
Struch saw Poulin a bit last season and knew he had the talent to be an asset.
“We had the opportunity last year to see him three or four days and liked what we saw in practice. The best part was when we did skills with Erik Lodge and saw the way he moved. He could handle the puck, was a big guy, very mobile.
“Obviously when you see that and then they can spend the summer going over the training process and condition themselves both mentally and physically.
“He made the team, and it wasn’t by fluke. He came in and took some guidance (and went from there).”
Struck admits Poulin still has some work to do, like any younger player.
“He still has work to do on his consistency of playing a heavy game and work on his foot movement and his hockey IQ, but he comes to work every day and now it’s our job as a coaching staff and organization to help him along the way. But he also has taken ownership to this point, and we hope he continues to grow.”
The fact Poulin was in camp last year has helped him this year.
“Definitely. I was prepared knowing what I had to do. To work on.
“I think I worked hard to get where I am.”
Poulin sees himself as a physical power forward who “likes to take the puck to the net.”
He’s always had an offensive side, averaging over a point a game through U15 to U18 in the Fraser Valley system.
“Even as a youngster I could put the puck in the net,” he said.
But he wasn’t overly big.
“I just started grow after my U15 season,” he explained.
Being only 17 now, Poulin feels he’s just starting to grow as a player.
“It’s good to get the playing time, now hopefully I keep producing and move up in the ranks.”
Struch sees him as a future team leader.
“We look at what we got in (Carson) Birnie, (Jhett) Larson, (Talon) Brigley and (Ollie) Josephson … the ones we have up front now. They are our engine guys, they work, and you look at the potential of Poulin in the future to be one of those guys.
“Not taking anything away from other guys but this is what he could be moving forward and when he got guys like that, they become the guys who lead by action on the ice.
“Credit to them for how they compete and battle every single one of them. Poulin is a bigger guy and has a good future.”
The Rebels return to action Friday at 7 p.m. at the Peavey Mart Centrium for the final game in their three-game set against the Tigers.
It’s also the first game of a three-game-in-five-day homestand. They host the Calgary Hitmen Saturday and the Vancouver Giants Tuesday.
NOTES – The Rebels announced three roster moves Tuesday… defenceman Jack Bousquet (’07), newly acquired from the Spokane Chiefs, has signed a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement with the team and has been added to the roster… defenceman Quentin Bourne (’06) has been granted his release from the club… forward Nolan Schmidt (’08) has been assigned to OHA Edmonton U18 (CSSHL).
